Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)

[talien]

Fox and Geese: Part 3a – Brother, Who Art Thou Really?

Leading the legionnaire of the Temple Quarter and through the city was the equivalent of herding a small child. As they continued slowly through the crowds, a homely looking gnome struggled to reach them. He was dressed in simple robes that could have been white once, but had since grayed. He received several buffets from the crowd before he reached them.

“Greetings…” whispered the gnome in a wheezing voice through teeth half-rotten, “I recognize you…you vere in the Bone Market earlier…”

Kham stepped in front of Quintus, pistol ready. “That’s close enough, ugly.”

“Ah, no, I harbor no ill intent towards you...You did as you saw fit, as must ve all...But I thought you should be made aware...dat dere is more to dis dan you may know…”

Kham shook his head. “We’re just attracting all kinds of crazies today, aren’t we?”

“Ah, indeed...I vas vitness to de dispute in the Market there...and to your actions...I am...Brother Gavrin...and I have seen and heard many things...One of my...lesser stature…is often overlooked...”

Beldin stood nose to nose with Gavrin. “Out with it, half-breed. What do you want?”

“Dose dat you aided have dark intentions indeed…”

“You mean the Sarishans?” asked Sebastian.

Gavrin nodded. “Though dey each accuse the other of evil...dey both have evil...in their hearts...Both groups are...leading dese blameless...folk to sacrifice…though dey would never...admit it to ones whom…dey wish to dupe into helping them…”

“What are they up to, then?” asked Sebastian.

“Dey will take dem east...to a village in the She’haulk mountains...Dere dey trade dese folk to heretical savages...dat live in those mountains. De folk are used...as offerings in their bloody rituals.”

“And you’re telling us this because…” Ilmarė waited for Gavrin to finish his sentence.

“If you truly respect dis man...den do not turn him over to either group...I know of...a group of Illiirite monks...who would take dem in…de Brotherhood...of de Just Death...Dey do not believe in…human sacrifice…”

“Well, Quintus would certainly be happier with Illiirites,” said Kham. “I didn’t know there were any here. It doesn’t seem like…” he looked around, “Illiir’s kind of place.”

“There aren’t,” interjected Sebastian. “The Brothers were an Illiirite group, that slanted their views to more easily appeal to Nerothians, but were not themselves Nerothian. I thought their chapel was burned down a long time ago.”

Gavrin looked surprised. “De Confraternity...is known outside of Canceri...no? Dey are not…followers of Canceri’s dark gods...You should have no…fears of sacrifice...from dem…”

“And where do you want us to take him?” asked Beldin.

“Lead him...to de abandoned Pantheon temple...in de Trade Quarter. De brothers can…meet you dere...I can inform dem...”

“You do that,” said Kham. “Now run along.”

The gnome flashed them a horrible smile and then limped his way back through the crowd.

“I swear,” Kham said to the legionnaire. “You attract more attention with your mouth shut.”

 

[talien]

Fox and Geese: Part 3b – Brother, Who Art Thou Really?

“Tah dah!” shouted Kham as he led an expressionless man back into the back room of the Velvet Glove.

The booming legionnaire who had once been known as Quintus was unmistakably his old self. His hair was cut once more to military length. His beard was gone. Kham had even found a Coryani-style toga for him, although it was obviously not a military uniform.

Kham patted Quintus on the back. “Just give him a gladius and a cause and you’ve got your old Quintus.” He led Quintus over to the table and, with a gentle push on his shoulders, made him sit down.

Sebastian stared into Quintus’ unfocused eyes. “What do you think happened to him?”

Kham grabbed a bottle of Savonan wine left just for him. “I don’t know.” He uncorked it with his teeth and took a drink. “But whatever it is, we’re going to find out a way to fix it. There’s nothing a little magical healing can’t fix, we just have to find the right healer.”

“We still don’t know that it’s Quintus.” Ilmarė stood away from the legionnaire, arms crossed. “They faked von Grebel’s death with an imitation corpse. Who’s to say they can’t do that with a living person?”

Kham propped his legs up on the table. “What is your deal? You know Quintus’ body better than any of us.” He suppressed a grin. “Doesn’t he have distinguishing marks somewhere on him?”

Ilmarė glared at him. “I am not going to give that…THING the pleasure.” Her hands balled into fists at her side. “I don’t trust it. It could turn on us at any moment.”

“I think it is Quintus,” said Beldin. “I think he got into some trouble. Trouble he couldn’t get out of. And it’s our duty to help him however we can. He would have helped us.”

“You have your oath, dwarf,” sneered the elorii. “If it really is Quintus, then his god has truly forsaken him.” She lowered her voice. “Quintus was the most pious fool I know.”

“What’s that Quintus?” Kham cupped one finger to his ear to Quintus. “What? Your gods killed someone else’s gods? Oh THAT’S RIGHT!” The val pointed at Ilmarė with the bottle of wine. “Our gods DID wipe out YOUR gods!”

Ilmarė’s eyes narrowed to slits. “How dare you…” She opened her mouth and closed it again, overcome with a flash of rage.

“That’s right, we’re all stupid humans!” shouted Kham. “You know what? I’m glad Quintus can’t hear this! He wouldn’t want your pity anyway!”

“That’s enough!” Sebastian stood up between them. “We’re all on edge. Let’s try to focus on getting whoever this is to safety; whether it’s really Quintus or not, I will not stand by and allow an innocent to be sacrificed.”

Beldin stood up with him. “Nor I.”

Kham put down the bottle of wine. “Fine. But Quintus stays with me. I don’t trust her with him. She might try to slit his throat or something.”

The val rose and guided Quintus out of the room. He looked over his shoulder at Ilmarė as he left. Beldin and Sebastian wordlessly followed him out.

Ilmarė sat down at the table and picked up the bottle of wine, all the energy and emotion drained from her. “I still don’t think its Quintus,” she said weakly to no one in particular.

 

[talien]

Fox and Geese: Part 4 – True Suns

“You’re sure this is it?” asked Kham.

Like most of the Trade Quarter, the buildings had shops and restaurants on the ground floor, with residential dwellings on the floors above. They had little difficulty blending with passers-by while they waited near the burnt-out chapel of the
Confraternity.

“My sources tell me that the Confraternity of the Just Death has been seen poking around here, near their old chapel. Apparently they’ve been lying low, afraid of persecution.”

Ilmarė snorted, but didn’t add anything else.

After a time, a brown-haired man in whitish-gray robes slowly made his way down the street. With a quick glance to see that he wasn’t followed, he ducked inside the chapel.

“That’s our man,” said Sebastian.

Kham pulled his cloak further over his head. Sebastian did the same.

“Stay here with Quintus,” he said to Beldin. “If you hear any loud noises, hit people with your axe.”

They padded up to the large doors and followed the man inside.

The complex proved to be larger inside than it seemed from the street. The outer wall and rooms were still in ruins, showing signs of the burning of two years ago.

Sebastian looked around. “Looks like they’ve been trying to repair it.”

As they moved further into the chapel, it became apparent that some of the rooms showed signs of repair.

Kham put an open palm in Sebastian’s face and one finger to his lips. There was movement ahead.

Peering around the corner, Kham saw the man he was following, along with another, younger man. The younger man was plastering a section of wall.

“I fear things are going from bad to vorse, Prior,” said the younger man. “After dey arrested de Milandisian, dey vill most certainly persecute us.”

Sebastian was overcome by a wave of fitful coughs.

Kham rolled his eyes. “Remind me to not take you with me next time.”

Both of the men turned at their entrance. The older man came forward nervously. “What brings you here?”

“You’re with the Confraternity of Just Death, right?” asked Kham.

“Who vants to know?”

“Relax, we’re not Nierites.” Kham pulled back his hood to display his mixed heritage.

The man swallowed hard. “I am Prior Andreas. How can I help you?”

“Brother Gavrin sent us,” said Sebastian, clearing his throat. “He mentioned that you were gathering up the Touched.”

Andreas exchanged glances with his acolyte. “Ve do not know a Brother Gavrin. Or de Touched.”

“What a surprise,” said Kham.

“De Confraternity vould indeed take in the Touched, but dis Gavrin is not a member of our group.”

“You like Illiir, right?” asked Kham. “One of our friends has been mistaken for one of the Touched. He’s not normally like this…he’s just having a bad day. He needs a safe place to stay.”

“Brother Gavrin told us to bring the Touched to an old ruined temple of the Pantheon.”

The Prior’s brow furrowed. “Dis man of vhich you speak lies. I fear de vorst for de innocents you speak of.”

“As do I,” said Sebastian. “If you agree to watch over our friend, I will require you to swear a Sarishan oath.”

Andreas nodded. “Of course, ve vill be happy to do such a thing, especially if he vas a man of Illiir as you say.”

“Great.” Kham took out one of his pistols and began cleaning it. The two holy men gasped.

“And vhat vill you do?” asked Andreas.

Kham exchanged glances with Sebastian. “We’re going to crash a party.”

 

[talien]

Fox and Geese: Part 5a – Scouting the Corpse Gate

The place indicated by Gavrin where the Oathbinder’s clergy were gathering Touched turned out to be an empty warehouse near the Vein Canal. Outside, it looked shabby, deserted. Although the place looked run-down and abandoned, there were no windows or cracks in the plaster walls on the first floor through which to view the inside.

“There’s no windows on the first floor, but there are on the second.” Kham pulled out two potions from his coat. “And since the cat-girl couldn’t make it today, I’ll be filling in for her with a little help from Falthar val’Abebi.”

He downed a potion. Nothing happened.

“Jump potion,” said Kham with a grin. He drank another potion and disappeared from sight.

A minute later, Kham returned from his reconnaissance. “Shipping doors are sturdy. There’s a smaller entrance for employees to enter but it’s locked too.”

“Great,” said Beldin. “So how do we get in?”

Kham shrugged. “Something went down in there. There are Nierties trying to pretend that they’re the Confraternity of Just Death, and doing a piss-poor job of it. I heard them talking about waiting for a cart to arrive, probably with the Touched in it.”

“You mean that cart?” Ilmarė pointed at a horse-led covered wagon that was already in front of the warehouse. The driver got out and knocked on the doors.

“Ah crap, that’s our way in!” Kham looked around desperately.

Beldin pounded out of their hiding place towards the man at the door.

“What is he doing?!” whispered Sebastian.

“Taking charge,” Kham whirled to pursue the dwarf. “About time somebody did!”

The man at the door didn’t have a chance. The dwarf barreled into him, knocking him a good five feet out of the path of the door. Kham arrived seconds after. He pulled his cloak over his head just as the door opened.

The guard, concealed under a deep hood, whispered. “Are you here to deliver the package?”

Kham adjusted his hood. “Yeah.”

“What’s the password?”

Kham thought for a moment. “Everybody deserves a just death.”

The guard nodded and the doors opened wider. Kham suppressed a chuckle; the Nierite impostors had no idea what the password was and neither did he.

Kham led the cart slowly into the warehouse. There were a few thumps behind the cart as it moved through the doors.

Kham took in the warehouse from a new perspective. Guards flanked him on either side. Another hooded and cloaked figure stood atop a pile of crates.

The horses whinnied nervously. Kham tried to calm them down.

“Easy, easy,” he whispered to the horses. Their eyes were showing white as their ears flicked in agitation.

“What’s gotten into them?” asked the leader atop the crates.

“One of the Touched is a dark-kin,” said Kham.

The horses started neighing in obvious distress.

“Well, calm them down,” said the leader. “Filthy half-breeds.”

Kham feigned offense. “Half-breeds? I thought the Confraternity of Just Death treated all souls equally.”

“Oh, they do.” The leader threw off his cloak, revealing the red, snug-fitting clothes of a Nierite sorcerer. “But we’re not members. I am taking possessions of these sacrifices on behalf of Nier! Now stand down or face His fiery wrath!”

Kham shrugged. “You heard him,” he said over his shoulder. “I either stand down or its fiery wrath time.”

Sebastian hopped out of the wagon. “I choose fiery wrath: Incendiaries globus!”

 

[talien]

Fox and Geese: Part 5b – Scouting the Corpse Gate

All hell broke loose. The fireball caught the Nierites by surprise, incinerating crate and warrior alike.

Just as Sebastian cast his spell, Beldin cut the reins of the horses. The explosion and the appearance of the dark-kin drove them to maddened flight. The horses galloped forward, crashing into sacks of flour and knocking one Nierite off of his perch.

One of the Swords of Nier, who looked just like all his other companions, pointed at Kham. “Witness the full beauty of Nier’s glory!”

Kham tapped his lenses with one pistol-fisted hand. “No thanks, I…Althares!”

There was a blinding light, so bright that it felt as if it had ignited the back of Kham’s skull. And then all he saw was white.

The sound of an arrow whistled past his ear. “What now?” came Ilmarė’s voice.

“I’m blind!” shouted Kham. “The bastard blinded me!”

“Well get out of the way then, you’re blocking my shot!” she shouted back.

Kham felt around desperately. He was in the middle of combat, completely exposed. It would just take one hack of the Nierite’s swords to finish him.

Think. THINK! What would dad do?

He would use every advantage at his disposal. Kham took a deep breath.

Kham heard Beldin’s familiar grunt to his left as steel met steel. He had only seconds before one of the Nierites took advantage of his position.

The gift! Kham had used it to see into the future. Perhaps he could use it to see the present, as it was before he was blind.

He concentrated. In the awful whiteness of his mind, a pinpoint dot came into sharp focus. It was the warehouse. He was looking at it just as he did before he went blind. Everything and everyone was frozen.

Kham looked around. It was like staring at a set of museum pieces that were all perfect reproductions of the originals. The Nierite priest had his finger outstretched, but Kham wasn’t interested in him. He looked around for the nearest escape route.

The window! There were no windows on the first floor but there were on the second. The jumping potion was still in effect. He could make it, if he timed it perfectly.

Kham turned his body and lifted one arm. It felt distance, like he was pulling on strings to make his limbs move.

He fired. The glass in the window shattered. The path was clear.

Now he just had to jump the twenty feet to the exit.

There was another WOOSH of flames near him. He felt the heat. Hopefully that was one of Sebastian’s spells. But it could just as easily have been from the Nierite sorcerer.

Remembering where everything and everything was, Kham took a short hop forwards. Before he landed, he hoped to Althares that the terrain hadn’t changed…

He landed. Judging from the hollow thump beneath him, it was a crate, just as he remembered it. Now was the hard part. There were three crates lined up in a row, then a ten-foot gap. He had to time it perfectly.

“Are you insane?” shouted Ilmarė.

Kham didn’t have time to respond. Taking three mighty strides, he hurled himself through the abyss.

Something tinkled around him; bits of glass, he guessed, still falling form the window. The sounds of combat were muffled, behind him. He smelled fresh earth.

Kham was outside. He reached out, felt the wall, sagged against it. The world was still blindingly white.

Eventually, he heard the approach of footsteps. Kham whipped out both of his pistols. “Stay back!”

“You’re still blind?” asked Beldin. “I don’t believe it. I thought for sure you—“

“Yeah, well, let’s just say I have a good memory.”

“We’ve got all the Touched. I’m going to bring them back to the Prior Andrea in the cart. I figured you could use a ride.”

Kham nodded and holstered his pistols. A firm hand gripped his and hoisted him to his feet.

“I’m feeling a little touched myself,” said Kham.

 

[talien]

Fox and Geese: Conclusion

Prior Andreas seemed surprised when the Touched were brought to him.

“Ve are housing dem, for now, in de old chapel of de Confraternity, in de Trade Quarter.”

“Look, I’m grateful for the healing and all.” Kham put his lenses back on, his sight restored. “But if you don’t tell me where Quintus is I’m afraid I’m going to have to shoot you.”

Andreas folded his fingers. “Vhen you said dat Quintus vas not normally Touched, I prayed to Illiir to grant him mercy. And he did. Vhen he awoke from his stupor, he asked vhere he was. Vhen I told him, he fled.”

“That’s it?” Ilmarė looked crestfallen. “That’s all he said?”

Andreas nodded. “He said something about a mission. I believe your friend knew his vay around Nishanpur. He strikes me as a man who can take care of himself.”

“He usually can,” said Sebastian with a wry smirk. “I wonder if he was aware of us that whole time.”

Kham shot Ilmarė a look. “I hope not.”

“It is no longer safe here, for any of us. Dere have been violent incidents between Nierites and Nerothians. Ve vill try to get de Touched out of Nishanpur soon. You should leave as soon as you are able.”

“We would,” said Kham. “But we’ve got another friend who needs our help.”

“No one left behind,” Beldin said with an approving nod. “Human or otherwise,” he added for Ilmarė’s benefit.

“It is only a matter of time before the city erupts into open conflict on the streets,” said Ilmarė. “The question is when?”

“Not soon enough,” said Sebastian. “Not soon enough.”

 

[talien]

Chapter 41: Truths of Purity and Corruption - Introduction

This is a Year One Living Arcanis Nishanpur adventure, “Truths of Purity and Corruption” by Kimberly Wajer-Scott, set in the Arcanis setting. You can read more about Arcanis at Onara Online. Please note: This adventure contains spoilers!

Our cast of characters includes:

• Dungeon Master: Michael Tresca (http://michael.tresca.net)
• Beldin Soulforge (dwarf fighter) played by Joe Lalumia
• Kham Val’Abebi (val rogue/psychic warrior) played by Jeremy Ortiz (http://www.ninjarobotstudios.com)
• Sebastian Arnyal (dark-kin sorcerer) played by George Webster
• Ilmarė Galen (elf bard/fighter) played by Amber Tresca

This adventure is the last of the Canceri modules. I merged all three of the holidays in the adventures together to take place over one eventful week just to make things easier. Although it doesn’t quite conclude what’s happening in Nishanpur, it certainly brings the political situation to an inevitable conflict. This lets Sebastian leave the place with a sense of closure.

Similarly, Vlad finally gets his day in court. He doesn’t so much get closure as he gets to live; but that’s pretty much the same thing.

This adventure also wraps up the whole arc in Nishanpur, explaining what Quintus was doing there, why von Grebel was turned into a vampire, and just what Leonydas and his Nierites have been doing all this time.

 

[talien]

Purity and Corruption: Prologue

The weeklong Burning Man festival was finally coming to a close. Tensions were high; the week had witnessed a series of clashes between the Swords of Nier and the populace. Everyone was expecting something to happen, but what exactly that would be was anyone’s guess.

If ever there were a night for strange events, the last day of the Burning Man festival was it. In honor of Cadic, everyone went masked, with many groups of revelers traveling around in gaudy costumes. Like a dark carnival, the general citizenry held lavish parties, and all social boundaries were temporarily suspended.

“It reminds me too much of the King in Yellow,” said the purple-and-silver haired elorii with a frown. “I don’t like it.”

“If something is going to happen, it will happen tonight,” replied her dark-kin companion. Sebastian smoothed back bone-white hair. “What better time for an insurrection against the oppression of the Swords of Nier to rise, than the night when no one can clearly be identified and nothing is necessarily what it seems?”

In honor of Sarish, the last night was one of great magics. For the faithful, it was a night when much business was attended to: the Academy of the Temple of Shadows held auditions, and the Temple of the Keeper of Mysteries opened its doors to new initiates. On that night, anyone could seek to change his fortunes. A slave could become a priest, or a nobleman’s son an assassin. Safely masked, they could make their applications, carry out their plots and intrigues, and none need know the results until contracts were signed and the masks came off at dawn.

A gruff dwarf with a beard ending in gold beads nodded at one of the walls. “Lots of graffiti supports your theory,” said Beldin.

They had all noticed an increase in the amount of graffiti scrawled in alleys and even on the corners of a few buildings. Most of it was anti-Erdukeen in nature, ranging from calls for the overthrow of the Autocrat to predictions that Eremis val’Virdan would soon arise to free the city, to cryptic references of what were presumably religious tracts.

Spelled out in white ink, in foot-high letters running the length of one wall of the Nihang Council Building read, “The righteous heart shall burn away poisonous lies.”

“That’s from an obscure Nierite codex,” said Kham. “The Way of the Flame. Where are we going, anyway?”

“Horeb’s,” said Sebastian. “I’m meeting one of my contacts there.”

Horeb’s was on Oath Way. A small establishment, the seating consisted entirely of two long benches. To one side was a long counter area where food was prepared and served. A middle-aged man busily worked at seasoning, stirring, and periodically tasting a large container of stew. He also kept an eye on some loaves of fresh bread rising in an oven behind him.

At the fourth hour past noon, the workday was not yet over, so business for the eatery was sparse. There was plenty of room to have a seat. The few other patrons were dressed as bureaucrats and other mid-level businessmen of the quarter. They talked quietly among themselves, no doubt looking forward to their various entertainments during the evening’s festival.

One bench had folks scattered down it, while the other was mostly empty, with only one person seated.

Sebastian ordered some stew from Horeb. “You should order some,” he said to his companions. “Horeb’s stew is actually quite good, especially with the fresh-baked bread to use as a makeshift spoon.”

Beldin and Kham ordered bowls and followed Sebastian to the mostly empty table.

“I am gratified dat you have chosen to join me,” said Helac val’Mordane without looking up from his own bowl of stew. “Our mutual friend had hoped you vould be interested in a business proposition.”

Sebastian knew Helac meant Garan val’Mehan, Akali Vervain’s right-hand man and Sarishan diplomat. “What sort of business proposition?” asked Sebastian.

“It turns out dat Akali Vervain’s plan vas more far reaching dan even Garan comprehended. By turning Commander Haron von Grebel into a vampire, ve uncovered much about de Nierite plans for Nishanpur and Canceri in general.”

“What kind of information?” prodded Sebastian.

“Ve have become avare of a certain person, who has recently arrived in de city, by de name of Baecinia val’Virdan. She has information dat ve vould find most interesting. Please see to it dat she comes to see us. Based on your past actions, our mutual friend believes dat ve have a common goal, and so he chooses to ask for your assistance in dis matter.”

“And that goal is?”

“Vhy, to see justice done, of course. No more and no less. But as you know, dere are some dat have a rather…skewed…sense of vhat constitutes justice. De Swords of Nier here in de city, for example. Dey would not be pleased if de information dat Baecinia possesses vere to come to light.”

“What does our friend want with Baecinia val’Virdan?”

“Communication. A meeting, if possible; he vould like to speak vith her in person. Such things can be difficult to arrange directly. Information is power, as you know, and even de information about who is communicating vith whom is a form of power and of itself. Our friend cannot tip his hand too early, hence de need for others to convey dis message.”

Sebastian nodded. “We’re in.”

“Good. Give her dis…” Helac passed Sebastian a small folded document, sealed by the Mark of Sarish. “Be cautious not to disturb de Mark…doing so vould have…unpleasant consequences.”

Sebastian took the document and concealed it within the folds of his robes. “It will be done.”

“Your friend, Quintus…ve discovered dat he was a Coryani spy,” said Helac. “He infiltrated de Order of de Hidden Flame and recovered intelligence as to de whereabouts of a legendary sword named Precision. But von Grebel captured him. He had Quintus’ mind viped as punishment and executed de other spies. Quintus has since fled Nishanpur. Our friend thought you might vant to know.”

“What about Vlad?” asked Beldin.

“De Milandisian?” Helac chuckled. “He has put our Nierite friends in an interesting predicament. If dey execute him, he becomes a symbol of Nierite brutality. If dey release him, it vill encourage more violence against de Swords of Nier. So dey delay, delay, delay. Dey are running out of time. De Autocrat has pledged to make a decision by de end of the Burning Man festival, tonight. It is more imperative dan ever dat ve veaken de Nierite position; if dey feel arrogant enough, dey might just make an example of Vlad.”

“We’ve got more than politics riding on this,” said Kham. “You take care of your end and we’ll find this Baecinia.”

Helac nodded. “One other thing. De Autocrat has doubled de forces looking for you, Kham. De best vay for de Nierites to get out of deir quandary is to find von Grebel’s murderer. Be careful. Nishanpur can be very unforgiving.”

“That’s no different from any other city Kham’s in,” said Ilmarė.

 

[talien]

Purity and Corruption: Part 1 – A Request

Though it was not as large as the Bone Market, the Lower Market in the Trade Quarter of Nishanpur still featured a staggering variety of goods of sale. There were foodstuffs of all varieties, innumerable household goods, and even a blacksmith selling arms and armor of Sarishan steel. The Factors’ Guildhouse was the largest building in the square, and it, along with every pub and inn, was thronged with people of all sizes and descriptions. Merchants displayed their wares on tables, in booths, or just on rugs spread out on any available patch of ground, creating a maze of milling people.

One of the male merchants, who had a bit of a Hinterlander look about him, was having a rather animated debate with a female Val customer, both of them alternately pointing at one another and at the various goods that the merchant had laid out on a colorful rug. After a moment, the woman threw up her arms in disgust and marched away, quickly disappearing into the crowd. The merchant, a somewhat sheepish look on his face, sighed and began rearranging his wares, which included a number of gemstones and even some ingots of a strange, reddish-tinted metal.

“Who was that woman?” asked Sebastian.

The merchant was a man of middle age, of average height with a lean but not overly muscular build. He had dark auburn hair, slightly graying, and brown eyes. He looked rather unsettled and nervous

“Yes...well, er...that was not a customer...that was my, ah, wife, actually.” The merchant spoke Low Coryani with a Hinterlander/Altharin accent that placed him as an Erdukeen. “She and I are new to the city, and so far our journey has not been very successful. She is ...unhappy ...with my efforts thus far in resolving our situation, and my wife is not a woman who hesitates to make her displeasure known. There is no mistaking the echoes of Nier’s fire that flow in her veins, that’s for certain!”

“Yeah, Nierite ladies can be a fiery lot.” Kham chuckled at some joke only he got.

“Ah, but we have not been properly introduced. Forgive my rudeness. I am Caius Virdan-Dura. And you are…?”

“Sebastian Arnyal,” said the dark-kin. He introduced his companions in turn. “We were looking for Baecinia val’Virdan. Judging from your last name, I gather she is your wife.”

“Yes.” Caius glanced around, as if he was looking for someone. “We are formerly from the city of Erduk. I lived in that city and served in the Swords of Nier, but it was some years ago, before the current Autocrat came to power.”

“Then we have a mutual friend,” said Sebastian. “We were told to seek you out…”

“Excellent!” said Caius. “I am in need of assistance from someone more familiar with this place than I. My wife and I are seeking some former compatriots of ours. We need to find them today. I have heard they may be here, but do not know where to begin looking, and so far my inquiries have come to naught. I simply do not know whom to talk to in this confusing city.”

He fiddled with the goods arrayed on the blanket before him, rearranging them in seemingly meaningless patterns. Eventually, he found a scroll case and handed it to Sebastian. “Here is a list of their names, along with a brief description of each. In addition, there are three letters. Give them each a letter. They will see it is in my wife’s handwriting and under my seal, and they will cooperate. The letters are all identical; it does not matter to which person you give each letter.”

“How do we get in touch with you when we find your friends?”

“We are staying at the Ebon Steed, which is not far from here. I will also remain here, in the Lower Market, during the day.”

“We’ll do it,” said Sebastian.

Ilmarė sighed. “Doesn’t anyone use messengers in this city?”

 

[talien]

Purity and Corruption: Part 2 – A Seer

Traevus val’Virdan was the first of the named ‘witnesses’ on the list provided by Caius.

“You sure this is the place?” asked Kham.

Sebastian nodded. “According to my sources, this is his residence.”

Beldin took up his axe and stood to one side of the door. Ilmarė, thinblade at the ready, stood on the other.

“Let’s try knocking first,” Sebastian said with a smile. He knocked three times.

An older gentleman dressed in an old threadbare robe answered his knock. His hair was white. He was thin and taller than average. He squinted at Sebastian with cloudy eyes.

“Can I help you?”

“Are you Traevus val’Virdan?” asked Sebastian.

“Yes, but I’m retired. I don’t do divinations anymore...You can find diviners advertising in the Lower Market…”

“We aren’t here for a divination,” Sebastian said. “We have a message for you.”

“A message? Come in, come in!”

Sebastian led his companions inside. The old man seemed very eager to hear the message. He sat down hastily in a rocking chair.

“Is it from my daughter? Would you read it to me? My eyes aren’t what they used to be…”

Sebastian cleared his throat. “I’m afraid it is not.” He opened the seal and peered at the words. They didn’t make any sense to him. He was about to show it to Beldin when Kham snatched it out of his hands.

“Interesting mix of Altharin and Dwarven. Anyway! It translates to: It is time; please join us in the Lower Market so we can right the wrong from long ago. It’s signed B and C.”

There was a little more to it, but the wording was cryptic, and it was apparent the letter was some sort of personal code developed between fellows to assure the genuine nature of the message.

The old man stood, apparently lost in thought, for a moment or two. Then Travus nodded to no one in particular, as if he had come to a decision about something that he had pushed to the back of his mind for a long time.

He turned around and shuffled back to the door, ushering them out. “Thank you for the message.”

“Wait,” said Sebastian. “Aren’t you coming with us?”

“I will meet them,” replied Traveus. “It will take me some time to get ready and go, though. And the note didn’t say anything about you coming with me.”

They left, uncertain if Traveus would really show up.

“Too bad it wasn’t a message from his daughter.” Kham thought of his own recently deceased father. “I almost wish we had delivered a note from him instead.”

Sebastian shook his head. “I think not. His daughter is a Sword of Nier.”

Kham swallowed hard. “I think know her.”